Mail-box.



E. W EASTERLING.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION I'ILED SEPT.4,19OB.

932,453. Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

UNTE S ELBERT W. EASTERLING, OF NICKELSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

MAIL-B 0X.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 4, 1908. Serial No. 451,763.

T 0 all w7wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBERT W. EASIER- L'ING, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Niclcelsville, in the connty of Scott and State ofVirginia, have invented new and nsefnl I1nprove1nents in Mail-Boxes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail boxes, the object in view being toprovide a simple, convenient and practical mail box for rural deliverypnrposes embodying novcl means for signaling both the mail carrier andthe patron, in connection with means for locking snch signal when inposition for signaling the carrier, the box also embodying nove meansfor holding stamped postal carde and currency in payment of the same.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which Will morefully appear as the description proceeds the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fnllydescribed, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingssFigure 1 is a perspective view of thecomplete mail box closed, and the signal arranged for the carrier. Fig.2 is a plan view of the box partly in section, showing the lid raisedand thrown back. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the box withthe lid closed and locked. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the rerersiblesignal, showing the shaft thereof in cross section.

The main bcdy of the box is preferably made in semi-cylindrical form asshown at 1 and constrncted of a single sheet metal blank while the ends2 thereof are made in separate pieces, flanged about their marginaledges and inserted in any convenient manner as by a grip jointillustrated at 3 in Fig. 2.

Upon the box is arranged a lid 4 which entirely covers the top of thebox and is prorided with a pendent marginal fiange 5 along its Sides andend which fiange overhangs the box and prevents water or dirt fromfinding access thereto. Connected to the front of the lid by means of aneye 6 or its equivalent is a padlock 7 adapted to engage a staple or eye8 on the body of the box for the purpose of locking the lid. The lid isalso provided with an upwardly projecting finger lift 9 to facilitateopening and closing the same.

Mounted on the under side of the lid 4 is a closure shaft 10 one end ofWhich is 1nonnted in a bearing formed by providing an opening in one endof the fianges of the lid while adjacent to its other end said shaft isjournaled in a suitable bearing 11 located adjacent to the center of thelid as shown in 2. Upon the outer projecting end of the shaft 10 thereis arranged a two-armed signal 12 having the enlarged or disk-shapedends 13 and 14 one of which may have printed or otherwise representedtherein such a designating character as the capital letter P t0 indicatethe patron while on the other arn1 the letter C may be placed toindicate the carrier as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The signal turns withthe shaft 10 and the opposite or inner end of the shaft is provided witha right angular extension 15 which by coming in contact with the underside of the lid 4 forms a stop for limiting the rotary movement of saidshaft thereby positioning either one arm or the other of the signal asindicated in Figs. 1 and 3. I also secure to the under side of the lid 4a clip 16 somewhat resembling the shape of the capital letter W the endsthereof being fixedly secured to the under side of the lid by means ofsnitable fasteners 17 While the intermediate portion of said clip isleft free and composed of spring material such as Wire, a letter orseveral letters may be inserted between said clip and the under side ofthe lid, such letter or letters thereby serving as a lock for the stop15 and preventing the shaft 10 from turning, when the shaft is turned tothe position shown in Fig. 2 with the stop 15 lying between the centraldiverging portions of the clip, and a letter or letters are insertedunder the clip, the letter C is displayed at the top of the box afterthe lid is closed thus directing the attention of the carrier to thefact that there is mail in the box to be collected. When any letters areplaced in the box by the carrier, he reverses the signal, displaying theletter P at the top thereof and calling the patrons attention to thefact that the box contains mail for said patron.

ithin the box is fitted the removable stamp and card tray 18 shown inFigs. 2 and 3, the same being in the form of a trongh extendinglengthwise of one side of the box and provided with hooks 19 adapted tobock over the rear edge of the box as shown in Fig. 3 whereby said trayis supported at a point just beneath the lid 4 when the latter isclosed. The trough comprises a front flange or Wall 20 which isscalloped or serrated and formed with vertical slots 21 Patented Ang.31, 1909.

adapted to receive postal cards, stamped envelops and the like in returnfor cnrrency placed in the trough to be collected by the carrier W110may thus deliver any number of postal cards or sramps paid for in themanner described. Vhen not needed, the tray 18 may be detached andremoved from the box by simply unhooking it from the rear edge of thebox.

I claimz 1. A mail box comprising a box body, a lid having a jointedconnect-ion therewith, a signal shaft jonrnaled on the under-side of thelid, a signal fastened on the projecting end of said shaft outside ofthe plane of the box, an angular extension of said shaft for1ning a stopadapted to coperate With the under side of the lid, and a clip carriedby the lid and adapted in connection with said stop to prevent rotativemovement of the signal shaft.

2. A mail box comprising a box body, a hinged lid, a signal shaftjonrnaled on the underside of the lid, a reversible signal mounted onthe projeoting and of said shaft 'outside of the plane of the box andembodying oppositely extending signal a11ns, and a stop on said shaftadapted to contact with the inner side of the lid and serving to limitthe rotative movement of said shafc and the swinging movement of thesignal arms.

3. A mail box comprising a hinged lid, a signal shaftjournaled on theunder side of the lid, a signal fastened on the p1ojecting end of saidshaft outside of the plane of the box, an angnlar extension of saidshaft forming a stop adapted to coperate with the ander side of the lid,and a clip carried by (lie lid and adapted to coperate with said stop toprevent rotative movernent of the signal shaft.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELBERT WV. EASTERLING.

Witnesses J. F. MCCONNELL, J12, V. V. GIFIFSON.

